Fluid stream generator



J. D. FOULKES FLUID STREAM GENERATOR Z of 5 Sheet FIG.2B

I: II II II II I II I FIG INVENTOR JOHN D. FOULKES ATTORNEYS Feb. 4,l969

Filed March 5, 1967 i i .5 1| in.

F l G.2A

FIGBA Feb. 4, 19 9 3 ors Sheet /I I I I I I Filed March 5, 1967 J v :2 f l/l/ ///l/// f 7 JOHN D. FOULKES M am 9 ATTORNEYS FIG. 4

United States Patent 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An enclosed and rechargeable fluid stream generator in which pressure is applied internally from a collection compartment to fluid in a reservoir compartment. This produces an upward flow of fluid which is dischargeable as a fluid stream into a demonstration compartment. The generated stream fluid then flows downwardly into the collection compartment, where its accumulation serves to maintain pressure in the reservoir compartment. Stream flow continues until the reservoir fluid is depleted to the point that the pressure transferred internally from the collection compartment to the reservoir is insuflicient to drive fluid into the demonstration compartment. Since the system is enclosed, it is rechargeable by inverting the generator to permit fluid accumulated in the collection chamber to return to the reservoir.

The generated fluid stream is used, for example, to simulate a fountain. It is also used to operate hydraulically actuatable devices, such as a water wheel.

Also disclosed is a composite of two generating systems mounted back-to-back so that when one of the systems is functioning as a stream generator, the other is recharging.

Background of the invention This invention relates to the generation of an upwardly flowing fluid stream, and, more particularly, to the generation of such a stream in novelty items and toys.

A stream or jet of fluid flow can be used in hydraulic control and signaling devices. It can also be used in devices which serve primarly to amuse. For example, an upwardly directed stream of fluid can simulate a fountain or a geyser. It can also be used to simulate percolation in a toy coffee pot, or it can be used to actuate a wide variety of hydraulic devices, such as water wheels, valves and the like.

When a fluid stream is to flow upwardly, it is common practice to employ a pump. This not only adds complexity to the system but it prevents the generator from being used independently of a source of pump power. I

Alternatively, an upwardly directed stream can be generated by using an elevated source. Such an arrangement is typically cumbersome and unwieldy. In addition, the system is restricted to sources which are above the level at which stream generation is to take place. Where pumping is to be avoided, the elevated source must additionally provide a continous supply of fluid.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to facilitate the generation of fluid streams. A related object is to facilitate the generation of fluid streams in novelty items and toys.

A further object of the invention is to achieve fluid stream generation from a reservoir below the level at which the stream effect is to be employed. An associated object is to provide for the generation of an upwardly flowing fluid stream Without the need for pumping action.

Another object is to achieve fluid stream generation using a fluid source of limited extent. A related object is to provide for fluid stream generation by a compact and portable device.

3,425,152 Patented Feb. 4, 1969 Still another object is to achieve rechargeability in a fluid stream generator employing a fluid source of limited extent.

Brief summary of the invention In accomplishing the foregoing and related objects, the invention provides an encloseable system constituted of a plurality of compartments or chambers which are adapted to contain fluids. The compartments are interconnected so that the presence of a pressure head between two of the compartments gives rise to pressure in another of the compartments, by which fluid is forced from the other compartment into the first compartment as a fluid stream. When the pressure is insuflicient for continued fluid stream generation, the system is rechargeable, as by inverting the enclosure containing the compartments in order to permit accumulated fluid to return from the first compartment to the other compartment.

In one embodiment of the invention, the various compartments are interlinked by respective conduits. One of the conduits extends from a first or demonstration com partment and gives rise to fluid pressure in a third or collection compartment. Another conduit allows pressure to be transferred from the third to a second or reservoir compartment, while a third conduit extending from the reservoir permits fluid contained there to be forced into the demonstration compartment as a fluid stream.

According to one aspect of the invention, the first and second conduits are advantageously coaxial to promote compactness of the generator. Further, the second conduit desirably extends from the ceiling of the collection compartment into the reservoir to facilitate pressure transfer during the generating cycle in which reservoir fluid is transferred to the collection compartment and also to facilitate fluid transfer from the collection chamber to the reservoir chamber upon inversion of the generator during the recharging cycle.

According to another aspect of the invention, the generative fluid stream may be used to simulate fountain action or it may be used to operate a fluid actuated device, such as a water wheel.

The system desirably contains at least two immiscible fluids of different densities, typically water and air. In addition, the quantity of generative fluid can be proportioned to assure error-free operation during both the generative and recharging cycles.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, two fluid stream generators may be interleaved and employed as a unit so that one is generating a fluid stream while the other is recharging.

Brief description of the drawings Other aspects of the invention will become apparent after considering several illustrative embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fluid stream generator in accordance with the invention, with a portion broken away for clarification;

FIGS. 2A through 2C are cross-sectional views of a representative fluid stream generator depicting various stages of an operating cycle;

FIGS. 3A through 3C are cross-sectional views of a representative fluid stream generator depicting various stages of a recharging cycle; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the invention incorporating two fluid stream generators in end-to-end position.

Description of the preferred embodiments Turning to FIG. 1, an illustrative fluid stream generator 10 includes an enclosed housing 11 with three distinctive and interconnected compartments or chambers 20, 30 and 40. As shown in FIG. 1, the compartments 20, 30 and 40, respectively, occupy upper, intermediate and lower positions. The intermediate compartment 30 serves as a reservoir for a fluid 31, preferably water, from which a desired fluid stream 21 is generated in the upper compartment 20. A lower density fluid 32, preferably a gas, occupies the upper portion of the compartment 30 and extends through a passageway or conduit 33 into the lower compartment 40.

When suflicient internal pressure is transferred through the passageway 33 and is applied by the residual fluid 32 in the reservoir 30 to the generative fluid 31, the latter is forced upwardly into a. passageway or conduit 34 and, as indicated by solid-(line arrows, is discharged into the upper or demonstration compartment as the desired fluid stream 21.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the generated stream 21 in the demonstration compartment 20 is directed against a fluid actuatable device 22. For this purpose the stream 21 emerges at an outlet orifice 340 of the passageway 34 and illustratively strikes a cap 26 by which the stream is deflected into a trough 23. The stream 21 then flows along the trough 23 and turns a fluid actuatable device taking the cforrn of a water wheel 22, which is rotationally mounted in the path of the stream 21 within the demonstration compartment 20.

The spent fluid of the stream 21 enters an inlet orifice 25-i of a passageway or conduit 25 which extends into the lower compartment 40. As a result, there is an ever-increasing accumulation of fluid 41 in the basin of the colflection compartment 40. Because of the passageway 33 between the reservoir and the collection chamber 40, the upper portion of the latter is also filled with a lower density second fluid 42. This fluid 42 merges with the second fluid 32 so that the increasing accumulation of fluid 41 serves to maintain the pressure exerted through the passageway 33 against the reservoir fluid 31. Fluid stream generation in the demonstration compartment 20 continues until the pressure transferred from the collection compartment into the reservoir 30 is insufficient to drive reservoir fluid 31 into the demonstration chamber 20 by the passageway 34.

When stream generation terminates, it may be reinstated by inverting the generator 10 and allowing the accumulated fluid 41 of the collection chamber 40 to be returned to the reservoir 30 through the connecting passageway 33. At the same time, excess residual fluid 32 in the upper portion of the reservoir 30 returns to the collection chamber 40 through the demonstration chamber 20 by the connecting passageways 34 and 25 and augments the residual fluid 42.

Thus, fiuid stream generation in accordance with the invention takes place in two cycles. During the first cycle fluid stream generation in the demonstration compartment 20 is incident to the movement of fluid from the reservoir 30 to the collection compartment 40. During the second cycle the generator 10 is inverted and fluid accumulated in the collection chamber 40, as a result of stream generation, is returned to the reservoir 30. The desired fluid stream generation is then re-established by returning the generator 10 to the position shown in FIG. 1.

A pictorial representation of the status of a generator 10 during various stages of a generative cycle is depicted in FIGS. 2A through 2C. For the generator 10' of FIGS. 2A through 20, the generative fluid is water (shaded), while the second fluid of the system is air (unshaded). In addition, the outlet orifice 34-0 of the passageway or conduit 34 has been modified to form a spout in order to generate a fountain of water in the demonstration chamber 20.

In FIG. 2A the generator 10 is in condition to commence fluid stream generation. For this situation generative fluid 31 occupies a level in the reservoir 30 below the outlet 33-0 of the first or transfer conduit 33 and the inlet 34-i of the second or driving conduit 34. In addition, the level of fluid 41 in the collection compartment 40 is above the outlet 25-0 of the third or downflow conduit 25. If the height of the driving conduit 34 above the level of the pool 24 at the base of the demonstration compartment 20 is less than the difference in elevation between the level of the fluids 31 and 41 in the reservoir and collection compartments 30 and 40, the pressure head of the fluid in the downflow conduit 25 is suflicient to initiate stream generative action as shown in FIG. 2B.

In that event the head of water in the downflow conduit 25 causes air pressure in the collection chamber 40 to be transferred by the transfer conduit 33 into the reservoir 30 and applied to the surface of the fluid there, as indicated by dashed-line arrows. The resulting air pressure forces the reservoir fluid 32 upwardly and out of the spout 34-0 of the generator conduit 34. Stream generation continues until, as shown in FIG. 2C, either the level of the generative fluid 31 falls below the inlet 34-i of the generator conduit 34, or the differential pressure head approaches zero.

Once the stream generative action has been terminated, it is readily reinstated by recharging the reservoir 30, as illustrated by various stages of the recharging cycle as shown in FIGS. 3A through 3C. Since the generator 10' is enclosed, recharging is initiated by inverting it to the position depicted in FIG. 3A. By contrast with the upright position for the generator 10' in FIG 2A, the collection chamber 40 of FIG. 3A occupies an upper position while the demonstration chamber 20 is at the bottom of the generator. Initially, upon inverting the generator 10, the resid- |ual fluid in the nominally downflow conduit 25 and in the nominally driving conduit 34 are drained into the collection chalmber 20. The fluid 41 that has accumulated then begins to return to the reservoir 30 by Way of the transfer conduit 33. When the fluid 32 in the reservoir rises above the nominal outlet 34-0 of the generator conduit 34, as shown in FIG. 3B, there is overflow into the collection chamber 20. This action serves to replenish the pool 24 in the collection chamber 20 so that a suitable hydraulic head is developed in the nominally downflow conduit 25 to bring about stream generative action when the generator 10 is uprighted to the position shown in FIG. 2A. At the end of the recharging cycle the generative fluid is distributed between the reservoir '30 and the demonstration chamber 20 as shown in FIG. 3C. To insure that the downflow conduit 25 of FIG. 2A will be adequately primed, the volume of fluid in the pool 24 in FIG. 3C is suflicient not only to load the conduit 25 but also to provide a sufiicient excess to bring the basin level in the collection chamber 40, as indicated in FIG. 2A, above the downflow conduit outlet 25-0.

Although the generators 10 and 10" depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2A employ systems in which the stream fluid is water and the pressure applying fluid is air, other combinations of fluids may be used. In general, the various fluids in a system are desirably immiscible and, in the case of two fluids, one of the fluids has a slightly greater density than the other. Accordingly, mineral spirits can be substituted for water, in which case the second fluid can be a mixture of water and glycerin, preferably 50 percent of each. Other suitable fluid combinations are a mixture of water and glycerin for the generative fluid and liquid paraflin as the pressure applying fluid. Another alternative is Freon in place of water, with liquid paraflin as the pressure applying fluid. It is also advantageous to include a standard wetting agent to reduce surface tension and facilitate fluid flow, particularly when the generative fluid is water. Such a wetting agent is marketed and sold under the trade name Kodak Photo-Flo. In addition, where water is the generative fluid it is desirably distilled in order to reduce the surface tension further.

In a working model of the invention patterned after the generator 10' of FIG. 2A, the various chambers 20,

30 and 40 were of plastic material, such as polystyrene, and were cemented together using an epoxy resin. Each chamber was approximately cylindrical with a diameter of about 3 /2 inches and a height from base to ceiling of about 2inches. The generative fluid was water and the pressure transfer fluid wasair, both sealed in the gen.- erator The driving conduit 34 extended into the demonstration chamber by approximately half an inch; its inlet hadya diameter of about one quarter of an inch and was displaced above the base of the second chamber 30 by about three tenths of an inch. The downflow conduit extended from a tapered base of the demonstration chamber 20 to approximately two tenths of an inch from the base of the collection chamber 40. The transfer conduit 33 stood approximately 1 /2 inches above the base of the reservoir and was approximately one inch in diameter. It is to be understood that the model is merely illustrative and that a wide variety of compartment and passageway configurations and dimensions, as Well as material and fluids may be employed.

Since the fluid generator system 10 of FIG. 1 is completely enclosed, the quantity of generative fluid within the housing 11 is of a prescribed amount. This amount can be proportioned to achieve a number of desirable operating characteristics.

To prevent excessive downflow through the conduit 25 when the system is first set into operation, the initial quantity of fluid 42 in the collection chamber 40 desirably is at a level which exceeds the displacement of outlet orifice 25-0 above the base of the chamber 40.

Moreover, to assure that the generated fluid is driven from the outlet orifice 34-0 of the driving conduit 34, the fluid pressure head is advantageously such that the height of the driving conduit 34 above the pool of fluid 24 in the demonstration chamber 20 exceeds the distance between the surface of fluid 31 in the reservoir 30 and the surface of the fluid 41 in the collection chamber 40.

In order that the downflow conduit 25 will be primed to initiate fluid stream generation, the total volume of fluid 41 in the collection chamber 40 at the end of a generative cycle desirably exceeds the sum total of (1) the volume of the downflow conduit 25, (2) the volume of the reservoir 30 above the level of the residual reservoir fluid 32 when fluid stream generation has terminated, and (3) the volume of the collection chamber below the outlet 25-0 of the downflow conduit 25. For the situation where stream generation terminates with the residual reservoir fluid 31 below the inlet 34-1 of the driving conduit 34, the applicable reservoir volume is that above the inlet 34-i.

It is also desirable t prevent the reservoir generative fluid 31 from overflowing into the transfer conduit 33. For that purpose the volume of fluid in the collection chamber 40 above the outlet 25-0 of the downflow conduit 25 at the end of a generating cycle is desirably less than the volume of the reservoir 30 above the inlet 34-1 of the driving conduit 34 and below the outlet 330 of the transfer conduit 33.

A further embodiment of the invention is set forth in FIG. 4 showing a cross-sectional view of composite unit 100 constituted of two single ended generators 10 and 10 which have been fitted together with their reservoir compartments 30 and 30' interleaved with their collection compartments 40 and 40. As a consequence, the respective downflow conduits 25 and 25' have greater lengths than are to be found in the corresponding single ended generators 10 and 10'. The result is a more uniform and powerful head of generative fluid in either of the constituent devices 10 and 10'.

As shown in FIG. 4, fluid from the collection chamber 30 of the upper generator 10 is being forced through the driving conduit 34 in order to turn the water wheel 22 in a fashion similar to that previously described for the generator of FIG. 1. At the same time, the lower generator 10' is being recharged in a fashion similar to that previously described for the generator of FIG. 3B by the flow of fluid from the collection chamber 40 into the reservoir 30'. Consequently, when the generative action of the upper unit 10 has terminated, so that it becomes necessary to invert the composite unit 100 in order to reestablish fluid stream generation, the lower unit 10' which is then fully recharged comes into operation as desired.

Other adaptations and modifications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for generating a fluid stream comprising a container,

a plurality of compartments within said container,

means for establishing fluid pressure between a first and a third of said compartments,

means for transferring pressure from the third compartment to a second compartment, and

means for permitting fluid to pass from said second compartment into the first compartment,

whereby pressure established in said third compartment is transferred to said second compartment to permit a fluid contained therein to be driven into said first compartment as a fluid stream.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the trans ferring means and the establishing means comprise coaxial passageways.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the first, second and third compartments are superimposed one upon the other,

the establishing means comprises a conduit extending from said first compartment into said second compartment, the transferring means comprises a conduit extending from said third compartment into said second compartment, and the permitting means comprises a conduit extending from said second compartment int-o said first compartment.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein each compartment has a base and a ceiling,

the conduit of said establishing means extends from the base of said first compartment to the vicinity of the base of said third compartment,

the conduit of said transferring means extends from the ceiling of said third compartment to the vicinity of the ceiling of said second compartment, and

the conduit of said permitting means extends from the vicinity of the base of said second compartment into said first compartment.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the conduit of said permitting means forms a nozzle in said first compartment,

whereby fluid forced into the conduit of said permitting means by the pressure transferred from said third compartment to said second compartment emerges in said first compartment with a geyser-like effect.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said first compartment contains means actuatable by said fluid stream.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the fluid actuatable means comprises a water wheel rotationally mounted in said first compartment in the path of said fluid stream.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 containing at least two immiscible fluids of different densities.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein a first of said fluids is selected from a class of fluids including air, Water and a mixture of glycerin and 70 paraflin and a second of said fluids is selected from a class of fluids including water, mineral spirits, water and glycerin and Freon. 10. Enclosed apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein 75 said first, second and third compartments are demonstration, reservoir and collection compartments, respectively, each having a base and a ceiling,

the establishing means comprises a downflow conduit having an inlet in the base of the demonstrtion compartment and an outlet in the vicinity of the base of the collection compartment, the transferring means comprises a transfer conduit having an inlet in the ceiling of said collection compartment and an outlet in the vicinity of the ceiling of the reservoir compartment, the permitting means comprises a driving conduit having an inlet in the vicinity of the base of said reservoir compartment and extending to an outlet in said demonstration compartment, said apparatus containing generative fluid in a quantity such that:

(1) the generative fluid in said collection chamber at the commencement of a generating cycle is at a level above the outlet of said downflow conduit in said collection chamber,

(2) the height of said driving conduit above a pool of generative fluid in said demonstration chamber during said generating cycle exceeds the distance between the surfaces of generative fluids in said reservoir compartment and said collection chamber,

(3) the totality of the generative fluid accumulated in said collection chamber at the end of said generating cycle exceeds the sum of (a) the volume of said downflow conduit, (b) the volume of said reservoir compartment above the inlet of said driving conduit and (c) the volume of said collection compartment below the inlet of said downflow conduit, and

(4) the volume of generative fluid above the outlet of said downflow conduit in said collection compartment at the end of said generating cycle is less than the volume of said reservoir compartment above the inlet of said driving conduit and below the outlet of said transfer conduit. 11. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said first, second and third compartments constitute an enclosed and self-contained first set and further including fourth, fifth and sixth compartments constituting an enclosed and selfcontained second set interleaved with the compartments of said first set, second establishing means oriented oppositely from the first mentioned establishing means and comprising a conduit extending from said sixth compartment into said fourth compartment, second transferring means oriented oppositely from the first mentioned transferring means and comprising a conduit extending from said fourth compartment into said fifth compartment, and second permitting means oriented oppositely from the first mentioned permitting means and comprising a conduit extending from said fifth compartment into said sixth compartment, thereby to permit one set of said compartments to operate as a fiuid stream generator while the other set thereof is recharging.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 362,421 5/1887 Buddington 46-41 1,570,996 1/1926 Dennison 46-41 2,515,171 7/1950 Abel 46-41 EDGAR W. GEOGHEGAN, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

